The Mexican subsidiary of Walmart, known as Walmex, has been steadily expanding its operations in Central America, increasing the total number of stores- ranging from small bodegas to Supercenters, from 661 in 2014, to 778 in 2018. Revenue from Central America reached US$5.2bn in 2017 and now accounts for almost one-fifth of Walmex revenue, up from 14% in 2014. The statistic is made all the more remarkable considering that Mexico has been one of Walmart’s most profitable operations since it first opened stores there in 1991. According to a report by Bloomberg, Walmex plans to expand into e-commerce and online sales across Central America, which is currently an underdeveloped and underserved market that incumbents in the US and Latin America have largely neglected.

This is an extract from the Caribbean Council’s fortnightly editorially independent publication, Central America Briefing, which provides in depth information on current economic, political and commercial developments in Central America. Business people, academics, and those with a general interest in Central America find it an invaluable tool for developing and maintaining knowledge and providing an insight into political, economic and commercial events in the region.

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